Updated 27^th May 2008

ANOTHER POOR WEEKEND FOR RED STAR The CFA season ended on Saturday at Bauer, with Red Star slumping to yet another disappointing defeat, this time to visitors Jura Sud Foot. The current unclear state of affairs at the club, with huge changes promised by president Haddad, left the players somewhat demotivated and halfway on holiday. Earlier in the afternoon at a meeting held by the supporters' club, Haddad announced that from next season the club would be having at least eighteen full-time players on contracts; quite where the cash to pay this kind of commitment is coming from remains unclear. Despite the gloom, Red Star took the lead agaisnt Jura Sud Foot from a sixth minute free kick; the goalkeeper handled a backpass and from the resultant quickly-taken free kick Jérémy Lux fired the ball into the net with the visitors' defence not yet organised. The goal stood despite the protests. The lead did not last long, however - Jura Sud were awarded a penalty, dubious to say the least. Yoann Djidonou went the wrong way and the scores were level. Then from a looping centre a Jura Sud forward outjumped the Red Star defence and the ball beat Djidonou for a second time. Despite Red Star pressure the game fizzled out to a defeat, the fifth in the eight games following from the entertaining win against Metz. Add to that the Coupe de Paris exit and the record for April and May is far from satisfactory. Other CFA results: Auxerre – Lyon : 1-1 Vesoul - Mulhouse : 2-0 Belfort - Nancy B : 2-2 Raon-l’Etape - Strasbourg B : 4-2 Epernay - Sochaux B : 2-3 Saint-Priest - Epinal : 1-3 Montceau-les-Mines - Croix de Savoie : 0-3 Besançon - Metz B : 1-1 This means that Croix de Savoie are champions and are promoted to the National. Relegated are Epernay, Belfort and Epinal. On Sunday Red Stars' reserves were looking to beat relegation rivals Bobigny to have a slender chance of avoiding the drop - however things got off to an awful start when they had goalkeeper Mohamed Diakité red-carded for an handball incident outside of his penalty area. A harsh decision which meant that full-back Christophe Haguy had to take over the goalkeeping duties. He managed to last nearly an hour before being beaten. Despite the ten-men handicap Red Star persisted and deservedly drew level? This was not the be enough, however, and one year on from celebrating promotion, Red Star slip back down to the DHR. Elsewhere, Red Stars' under 13s beat Sarcelles 3-2 whilst the under 15s (DSR) lost to leaders Drancy 0-1. Red Stars' under 18s reserves drew, which proved enough for them to be group champions and are promoted. And finally... congratulations to Red Stars' goalkeeper, Yoann Djidonou, 22, whom yesterday became a proud Daddy to Loan. Best wishes to Dad, Mum & baby from AllezRedStar.com. THE NEWS IN PHOTOS Red Star line up for the last time season 2007-2008 Back : Yosri, Nseke, Ouattara, Djidonou, Lefort, Lux Front : Tokala, Pinto, Lacomat, Ghili, Fardin Last time on the Red Star bench for Bruno Naidon & Jean-Marc Brucato. AllezRedStar.com thank them both for their work at the club and with this site, and wish them the best for the future. Popular striker Grég Lefort will be leaving the club at the end of the season Eric Charrier, Patrice Haddad, Henri Lelorrain & Denis Ledemé at the supporters meeting. Haddad has promised a virtually full-time Red Star, and promotion to the National in three seasons time. Red Star reserves - back : Haguy, Diakite, Mazouni, Diawara, Djemali, Agyiriba Front : Crocheray, C. Ali, A. Ali, Lettat, Aklouche Ducléron shoots and scores for Red Star in the reserves game against Bobingy Christophe Haguy takes over between the sticks in the reserves game.

Updated 20^th May 2008

FIRST TEAM LOSE, BUT HOPE YET FOR THE RESERVES Red Star lost to champions Croix de Savoie last weekend in Thonon les Bains, Savoie. Captain Eugène Kangulungu and his men were more than holding their own against the side requiring a win to put them back in the National, from where they were relegated a couple of seasons ago. However, after the break the home side scored to settle their nerves and later on in the game sealed the victory that sent the majority of the 2000 spectators wild with delight. Nearest rivals Besançon could only manage a draw and with an unassailable four point lead, Croix de Savoie should, barring last minute disaster (off-pitch issues sometimes stop clubs from gaining promotion) reclaim their spot in Frances' third flight. THE NEWS IN IMAGES Bruno Naidon was in charge of his last away game with Red Star, here pictured with Savoie coach Pascal Dupraz Hopefully the last of the ridiculously long away trips... Nearly two thousand turned up to see Red Star at Thonon Red Star goalie Yoann Djidonou celebrated his 22nd birthday on Saturday Several supporters travelled down from Berne in Switzerland to see Red Star. Kind of a local game for them in comparison to the trip from Saint-Ouen ! OTHER RED STAR RESULTS Your correspondant saw two Red Star games over the weekend; on Saturday the under 13s played at bottom of the table Saint-Leu and won 6-0; an enjoyable game with Red Star showing remarkable technique to win the game. A slight physical advantage over their opponents helped but congratulations to coach David Giguet for the performance. David Giguet told Red Star that a few of his youngsters have been checked out by bigger clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain. Red Stars' under 13s at Saint-Leu with coach Giguet, right On Sunday out came the bike for a trip to Conflans to see Red Stars' reserves play. Desperately in need of points, David Giguets' men started the game brightly but could have fallen behind twice. Just before the pause and with having their coach banished from the dugout, Conflans took the lead - Red Star had at least three chances to clear their lines but in each case gave the ball back to their opponents with the result of the ball finished in the back of the net. After the pause a reinvigorated Red Star took the game by the scruff of the neck and deservedly equalised on the hour mark from a corner. The goal was scored by one of Red Stars' under 18s, given his chance on the day. With the seconds ticking down and a draw looking likely despite Red Star pressure, a wonderful cross from the right found the head of Grég Lefort and the ball looped over the hoem goalkeeper Gueueye and into the net. With two games remaining, hope springs eternal for Red Star. Next up is a game against Bobigny, rivals to avoid the drop. Should Red Star win then it all goes down the final game - Red Star travel to Franconville, mid-table, whilst Bobiginy have a tough trip to Mantes. Red Stars' goalscorers in the DSR at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine © JH DULWICH IN L'EQUIPE MAGAZINE ! A quick mention for our friends at Dulwich Hamlet, who were featured in the weekly l'Equipe colour magazine. More on this later in the week....

Updated 15^th May 2008

OUT YOU GO ! Red Star crashed out of the Coupe de Paris with a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of CFA 2 outfit Ivry. Worse, two of the goals were scored by one of last seasons' cast-offs, the ever-dangerous Khaled Kemas. After only seven minutes the vastly-experienced Kemas nipped in at the back post unmarked to give his side a dream start, and from then on it was all downhill for Red Star. Inefficient in attack, incapable of hitting a barn door with a banjo, as the proverb goes. Just after the restart Kemas scored again, before leaving the action minutes from the end under a shower of applause from the local supporters. His replacement Da Cruz made the score three-nil in the dying seconds of the game to send Red Star back across the city humiliated. Ivry will now meet Poissy in the final to be played at Sannois in June. Mishi, you can therefore save yourself the Eurostar train fare !! Khaled Kemas, centre before the kick off Here, Khaled slips between defenders Bouzid Yosri & Donna Tokala Match officias Patrice Caudron, Philippe Collot & Ludovic Leducq Red Star president Patrice Haddad (left) pictured alongside future coach François Ciccolini. In the background Taïmmy Negreche & Eric Charrier CONGRATULATIONS To Red Stars' under 18s, winners of a soccer tournament that took place recently in Montbazon, near Tours. Action from the final between Red Star and Levallois

Updated 14^th May 2008

COUPE DE PARIS Tonight Red Star cross Paris to play Ivry in the Coupe de Paris sponsored by Paru-Vendu. There will be an air of revenge about the game, as earlier this season the Ivryens knocked Red Star out of the Coupe de France at the first hurdle, in a stormy match. Former Red Star man Khaled Kemas is now plying his trade with the CFA 2 outfit that had ambitions of promotion at the start of the campaign, but have settled into a mid-table position. The match kicks off at 8-30pm CET at the Stade Clerville. The winners will be rewarded with a final against CFA strugglers Poissy at the Stade Michel Hidalgo in Saint-Gratien (home of Entente SSG) on Wednesday June 4th (7pm CET). For the match this evening coach has an injury-hit squad, which together with suspensions and ilnesses makes selection somewhat complicated. The initial thirteen names chosen are : Djidonou, Kangulungu, Lacomat, Pinto, Tokala, Berthier, Ghili, Ouattara, Robert, Sow, Yosri, MBanza, Moukila. The last place, to be decided later today is between Ludovic Fardin and José Nseke. The officials for tonights' encounter are Philippe Collot assisted by Ludovic Leducq and Patrice Caudron. On Saturday Red Star drew 0-0 with Lyon reserves at a sun-baked Stade Bauer. With temperatures in the high twenties, the game had an end-of-season feel to it, a lack of finishing prowess limiting the two sides to a goalless encounter. Lyon were strengthened by the inclusion of Swiss international Patrick Müller, on the way back from injury and hoping for a place in his countrys' squad for the forthcoming European Championships. Watched by international coach Kobi Kühn, Müller gave a solid performance in defence. Patrick Müller and Kobi Kühn CFA RESULTS Vesoul - Besançon : 1-2 Belfort - Metz B : 1-0 Raon-l’Etape - Mulhouse : 3-2 Epernay - Nancy B : 0-1 Saint-Priest - Strasbourg B : 0-0 Auxerre B - Sochaux B : 3-2 Montceau-les-Mines - Epinal : 0-0 Jura Sud Foot - Croix de Savoie : 0-3 With this latest defeat, Epernay are relegated to the CFA2.

Updated 7^th May 2008

NAIDON OUT, CICCOLINI IN Red Star announced today that coach Bruno Naidon will not be the first team coach at the club next season. After two seasons at the helm that has seen the club stabilise itself in the CFA after an eventful and bumpy ride out of the CFA 2 in 2006, the amiable coach is to be succeeded by former Bastia coach François CICCOLINI. A former player with Bastia and GFCO Ajaccio in Corsica, Ciccolini took up coaching duties with Porto Veccio then returning to Bastia to coach the under 15s, the under 17s and the reserves before taking over the ailing first team, then near the foot of the first division. Unfortunately the club was too far in the relegation mire to be saved, and so Bastia dropped to the second division, parting company with M. Ciccolini in the process. Latterly he has been studying for his UEFA coaching badges, including a spell abroad in Germany. He was born on June 3rd 1962 in Cozzano, Corsica. COUPE DE PARIS The semi-final tie against CFA 2 outfit Ivry has been confirmed for Wednesday May 14th, kick off 8-30pm CET at the Stade Clerville in Ivry.

Updated 5^th May 2008

BACK TO WINNING WAYS Red Star got back into winning ways with a 3-0 victory on Saturday over strugglers Epinal. Despite turning up one hour before the kick off, after a difficult journey from Paris to the Vosges, Bruno Naidons' men took the game by the scruff of the neck. Playing the lovely flowing football that beat Metz back in April, Red Star took the lead through a fine strike by Yannick Berthier, before doubling their lead before the pause when Moussa Ouattara curled in a lovely free kick after Berthier had been fouled just outside the Epinal penalty area. In the second half David Pinto made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it three-nil following a foul on Elysée Mbanza. The players dedicated this win to their coach whom earlier this week lost his father after a long illness. A word also for the quality of the refereeing of this game, a very high standard and commonsense applied throughout. Red Stars' next game is at home to Lyon Reserves at Stade Bauer. Note that the kick off time is at the very-British hour of 3pm CET, to enable the visitors to return to Lyon via the TGV. Note also that the Coupe de Paris semi-final against Ivry could take place on Wednesday May 14th - date to be confirmed. CFA RESULTS The battle at the top between leaders Besançon and second placed Croix de Savoie ended up goalless, to no great surprise. Vesoul – Belfort : 1-2 Lyon B - Jura Sud Foot : 3-1 Besançon - Croix de Savoie : 0-0 Sochaux B - Montceau-les-Mines : 0-1 Strasbourg B - Auxerre B : 0-2 Nancy B - Saint-Priest : 4-1 Mulhouse - Epernay : 1-1 Metz B – Raon-l’Etape : 4-1 OTHER RED STAR GAMES The reserves appear to be doomed more than ever before following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to ACBB in Meudon. Meanwhile the under 18s lost to leaders Créteil 1-0. On the 1st of May the under 18s were in a tournement in Yerres, and Red Stars won the competition - photos are on the index page of the site. NEWS ROUND-UP IN IMAGES Moussa Ouattara celebrates his free kick at Epinal Sébastien Robert, Donna Tokala and Noël Moukila happy with their evening' work Red Stars' reserves prior to the game against ACBB at Meudon : Photo © Rémi Saillant Red Star with the trophy of the Tournoi de Yerres RED STAR v METZ as seen by Mishi, supporter of Dulwich Hamlet & Red Star... "On Saturday I had two games to go to. The first was my annual trip to Red Star '93; for their CFA (fourth level) home match at Stade Bauer, versus Metz B. This is a wonderful old stadium, & after my first visit there in 2004 I 'fell in love' with the Club! It is an easy ten minute walk from Mairie de Saint-Ouen Metro, in the north of the city. From the road the stand is the one behind the goal, with the Club offices & changing rooms underneath. This is a large covered terraces, over thirty steps steep, with crash barriers. This area is closed, though it looks perfectly safe. As you come in there is a small ticket office block, and you then go through an open gate to enter the ground. Along your left, as you walk in, is the main stand, the only part of the ground that is open. Covered along the whole length, it is 3 euros for the wing areas, & 5 euros for the centre. I paid five, but went in the wings, and stand with the hardcore singing Red Star fans, by the end with the big terrace. They have lots of flags hung up on the now old fashioned to English eyes fences. And I added my Cockney Greens DHFC Red Star banner. I was shocked, & surprised to find one of the regulars has now got himself a Union Jack, with DULWICH HAMLET FC on it! Bloody marvelous! Along the other side was an old stand. Derelict. I'm not sure, but I think it one had seats in it, or at least some of it. A couple of years ago some of the roof came off in a storm, & when the local council tried to repair it they found asbestos, so the whole lot had to be torn down. There are certainly no seats over there now, just a small electronic scoreboard on the back row, and it looks rather sad. Behind the other goal there are no spectator facilities. Just a grass bank. In the olden days this was apparently a large open terrace, but now there is a modern triangular shaped block of flats, a snap of which is included in the Simon Inglis 'Football Grounds of Europe' book. Behind the stand where spectators are allowed in there is a small stand selling beer & food on matchdays, and actually set into the stand as you come in, on the right, is a small club office, selling souvenirs. A free 4 page A5 programme was given away on admission, produced by their website www.allezredstar.com which has an excellent English version. I highly recommend a visit there to anyone who is in Paris, and feel free to email the website beforehand. John, who does the English translations, is originally from England, and is more than happy to welcome you. In fact if it wasn't for him on my first visit I'd probably never have kept on going back! Oh and the game itself was surprisingly good, both sides tried to play some flowing football, though some of the Red Star passing left something to be desired, & we won 1-0 with a peach of a volley towards the end of the first half..."

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